Ecophysiological and Growth-Related Traits of Two Geophytes Three Years after the Fire Event in Grassland Steppe.

Zorica Popović,Vera Vidaković

doi:10.3390/plants11060734

Abstract

Deliblato Sands is the single largest expanse of sand in Europe. It is the most fire-prone area of Serbia due to the absence of surface water, sandy soils, specific microclimate conditions, and vegetation composition. Post-fire regeneration is a long-term process that includes many aspects of vegetation regrowth and habitat recovery. In the third year following one of the disastrous fires, the growth dynamics of two geophyte species in unburned and burned sites were studied. During the growing season, burned and unburned populations of Crocus reticulatus Steven ex Adam and Iris pumila L. were assessed for growth parameters (biomass production, specific leaf area, leaf area index) and leaf-level ecophysiological traits (photosystem II efficiency, chlorophyll amount, relative water content). Species acclimated differently to changed abiotic and biotic site conditions after the fire event. C. reticulatus burned and unburned populations differed significantly in terms of flowering phenology and ecophysiological traits, whereas I. pumila burned and unburned populations differed significantly in terms of growth parameters. The findings support the assertion that geophytes are generally well adapted to environmental disturbances. Species, however, responded differently to fire-induced changes in the physicochemical and biotic environment, depending on their ecological requirements and adaptive capacity.

Highlights

Iris pumila L. were assessed for growth parameters and leaf-level ecophysiological traits
In the the case case of of I.I. pumila, pumila, the the timing timing of emergence emergence and flowering flowering occurred occurred in both populations populations at at the same time
Our study focused on phenotypic differences in plant traits between burned and unburned populations, with no genetic analysis, which would have provided more relevant information

Summary

Introduction

Most European dry grasslands are seminatural ecosystems that have evolved in response to specific environmental and disturbance factors. These factors were usually coupled with long-term traditional land use ranging from agricultural intensification to arable field abandonment [1]. Herbivores, and human impact, fire is one of the most important drivers of the formation and maintenance of European grassland communities [2]. The area of Deliblato Sands (Southern Banat) is the most fire-prone in Serbia, according to all indicators (number of fires, burned area, severity). This is a unique geomorphologic sand dune formation dominantly consisting of mixed forests (80%) and steppe (14%)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion